Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 24, 1940. H. F. SMITH REFRIGERATING' APPARATUS Original FiledApril 22, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l w E m/m n Sept. 24, 1940. l H, IF, SMITHI 2,215,534

REFRIGERATING APARATUS Original Filed April 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J9m 57 j 45 ""6 41o B E' S'INV'ETQ/R.

ATTORNEY;

I H. F. SMITH 2,215,534

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry F.SmithDayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio,a corporation of Delaware Application April 22, 193s, serial Np. 75,795Renewed December 23, 1937 9 claims. (ci. s2-115) Y This inventionrelates to refrigerating apparatus and other apparatus wherein it isdesired to drive a fan, or similar member, by means of the vibrations orgyrations of one of the elements of the apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a drive for a fan, or similarmember, without the necessity of connecting it directly to the primemover.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus embodyingfeatures of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but showing amodified form of fan drive;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a detailof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a slightly modif-led form ofthe invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a further modification; and

Fig. 6 is a crossV section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.5. A

An apparatus embodying features of my invention may include, in general,a system in which a member is directly driven by a prime mover,

such as an electric motor, in such a manner that vibrations or gyrationsare set up in the apparatus. These vibrations or gyrations are utilizedto drive a member, such as a fan, for blowing air over parts of theapparatus, or they may be used, in a refrigerating or Ether apparatus,to drive any other member desired. Thus, in the modications shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, the system may be a refrigerating system whichincludes the motor-compressor unit IIJ, discharging compressedrefrigerant into a condenser II for a receiver I2 from whence the liquidrefrigerant ows through the line I3, through an expansion valve I4 toanevaporator I5. The evaporated refrigerant returns through the line I6to the motorcompressor unit I0. The motor-compressor unit I0 preferablyis a sealed casing or frame within which are placed an electric motorI'I and a compressor I8. When the motor and compressor operate,theycause the unit I0 to vibrate or gyrate on the resilient or linkedsupports I9.

The vibrations or gyations of the unit I0 are utilized to drive the fan20 which in turn causes air toow over the condenser I I and unit I0, theair entering .at 2l and being discharged at 22.

In the modification shown in Fig. 1, the fan 20 is mounted on a. bracket23, carried by the cabinet, and the unit I0 is provided with anextension 24 which has a bearing in the crank 25 and causes the fan 20to rotate. f

In this and other modifications of a refrigerat- 5 ing apparatus, themotor-compressor unit is connected to the other elements of therefrigeratingv apparatus by resilient tubes so that the motorcompressorunit can vibrate or gyrate freely independently of the other parts ofthe apparatus. 10 This resilient tubing preferably has coils 26 and 2lto increase the inherent resiliency of the connections.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the motor-compressor unitIa, which is otherwise 15 connected to a refrigerating apparatus in amanner similar to Fig. 1, has the condenser fan 20a directly mountedthereon. -This fan is provided with a centrifugal weight 30 in such amanner l that the gyrations of the motor-compressor unit 20 Illa causethe fan to rotate by the centrifugal force created due to the eccentricweight 30.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the motorcompressor unit 3| may besimilar to the unitrI-ll. of Fig. l, but the extension 32 is directedlaterally 25 rather than upwardly. This extension is connected to thecrank 33 having a counter-weight 34, which in turn drives the condenserfan 35 which is mounted on the bracket 36 in the cabinet 31. Thegyrations of the unit 3| causethe 30 fan 35 to turn causing air to enterat 31a and to be discharged at 38. The unit 3| discharges refrigerantinto the condenser 39 having a receiver 40. The liquid refrigerant flowsthrough the line 4I and through expansion valve 42 into 35 evaporator43, the' evaporated refrigerant returning through the line 44 to theunit 3 I In the modication shown in Fig. 4, and in the othermodifications, the motor-compressor unit may be mounted on a centralsupport 45 by 40 means of a rubber cushion 46 placed underneath the unitto induce a circular gyration in the upper part of the unit and thusadapted for driving, by circular motion, the condenser fan or otherelement desired to be driven. The links 45 I9 and 5I on the side oftheunit preferably are resilient, so that the unit can gyrate freely.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, an arrangement is shown wherebyother elements, be-

sides the condenser fan, may be driven by the 50 power derived from thegyrations of the unit. Thus, the motor-compressor unit 50 may be mountedto gyrate on the resilient supports 5I and av central support as shownin Fig. 4. The unit is provided with an extension 52 which 55 drives thecrank 53 extending from the gear box 5t. The gear box 5ft is providedwith a plurality of gears 55, 56 and 57, which are connected by flexibledrives to the fans 58 and 59 and the water pump 60.

The motor-compressor unit shown in Fig. 5 may be connected to an airconditioning apparatus of the unitary type which is adapted to be placedin a room. This may include a cabinet having a machinery compartment 6iand an air cooling compartment 62. In addition, a Window cabinet 63 isprovided which is adapted to rest on the sill of the window and whichcontains the condenser Bd of the refrigerating apparatus. The air to beconditioned for the room 65 enters either from the room 65 itself at 66or from outside the room (not shown) or from both inside or outside theroom (not shown). This air flows over the evaporator 66 where it iscooled and dehumidifled and ows under the impulse of the fan -58 throughthe outlet 61 into the room. The moisture removed from the air dropsinto a pan 63 from whence it is pumped by the pump 6G to the distributorhead 69 over the condenser 66 where this moisture is evaporated by theheat of the condenser. The refrigerant compressed in the unit 50 isdelivered through the line 'l0 to the condenser 64, from whence it flowsin liquid form, into the receiver 1l. The condenser Gli is cooled bymeans of air blown by the fan 59, the air entering the cabinet 65 at 'l2and being discharged at 13.

The liquid refrigerant from the receiver il flows through the line 'illand through the eX pansion valve i5 into the evaporator 66 and re turnsthrough the line i5 to the unit 50. The valve 15 preferably is of thetype which delivers liquid refrigerant to the evaporator S6 whenever thepressure therein is reduced below a predetermined limit. It is alsoprovided with a thermostatic bulb 'i7 which automatically throttles thevalve when the refrigerating effect reaches the outlet of theevaporator. The calibration of the valve 'l5 is such that thetemperature of the evaporator 66 is above the freezing point of water,but is suiciently cold to dehumidify and properly cool the air.

The unit 50 may be manually or automatically controlled in accordancewith conditions created by the apparatus. Thus, a thermostat,humidostat, or an instrument 8B which is responsive to both temperatureand relative humidity, may be placed in a position to be influenced bythe conditions in the room 65, such as adjacent the inlet 66. Thiscontrol 80 may start and stop the unit 5U by opening and closing aswitch which controls the electric circuit to the motor 8l of the unit50.

In all of the modifications, the motor-compressor unit is so constructedthat it inherenntly has a gyrating motion. If necessary, a weight 82 inFig. 5, or 83 in Fig. 4, i's provided to impart such gyrations if theother parts of the unit do not inherently produce such vibrations.

In the modication shown in Fig. 5, it may be desirable to cool thecompartment 6l, since the same is insulated by the insulation 85. 'Ihismay be accomplished by providing a reservoir 86 around the unit 50. Theamount of refrigerant in the refrigerant system is such that a certainamount of liquid in the receiver 'll overows through the pipe 81 intothe reservoir 86. This refrigerant is then evaporated by the heatgenerated in the unit 50, and the vapors thus formed ow up through theline 81 and are condensed in the condenser s. The liquid thuscondensed-re+ turns by gravity through the line 57 in a recurring cycleto remove heat from the unit 50 and the compartment 5I.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the motor-compressor unitmay be started and stopped by a thermostat placed in the compartmentwhich is cooled by the evaporator.

In all of the modifications, the control may be manual instead ofautomatic. vA manually operable switch may be provided which controlsthe circuit to the motor, and the unit is adapted to operatecontinuously until turned off by opening the switch.

It will be seen that this invention has many uses. It may be usedwherever it is desired to transmit a rotary motion through a casingWithout passing the shaft therethrough.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating system including a motor and compressor mounted on arigid frame, a condenser member and evaporator member in refrigerantcircuit with said compressor, and a fan circulating air over saidevaporator member and being actuated by movement of said frame.

2. A motor-compressor unit including a casing, a motor and compressorwithin said casing, a support for said casing permitting said casing tovibrate, a fan outside said casing, means for mounting said fan forrotation in a plane at an angle to the plane of rotation of said motor,and means to operate said fan by vibrations of said casing.

3. A refrigerating system including a motor and compressor mounted on arigid frame within a room, an evaporator member within said room, acondenser member outside said room, and a fan circulating air over saidcondenser member and being actuated by movement of said frame.

4. A refrigerating system including a hermetically sealed motor andcompressor mounted on a frame, a condenser member and evaporator memberin refrigerant circuit with said compressor, and means for circulatingcondensate drained from said evaporator over `said condenser member andbeing actuated by movement of said frame.

5. A refrigerating system including a hermetically sealed motor andcompressor mounted on a rigid frame, a condenser member and evaporatormember in refrigerant circuit with said compressor, and means forcirculating cooling liquid over said condenser and being actuated bymovement of said frame.

6. A refrigerating system including a motor and compressor mounted on arigid frame, a condenser member and an evaporator member in refrigerantcircuit with said compressor, 'a fan circulating air over saidevaporator member and being actuated by movement of said frame, and asecond fancirculating air over said condenser member and being actuatedby movement of said frame.

7. A refrigerating system including motor-compressor mechanism, a casingtherefor, a condenser and evaporator in refrigerant flow relationshipwithsaid motor-compressor mechanism, and a fan rotatable about an axisat an angle to the axis of rotation of said motor-compressor mechanismand actuated by movement of said casing.

8. In a refrigerating system, a hermetically sealed motor-compressorunit, an evaporator, a condenser, iluid ow connections between saidevaporator, condenser and compressor, means enclosing saidmotor-compressor and condenser units, means for circulating air intosaid enclosure, a fiue for directing the air out of said enclosure, anda fan member circulating air through said ue and being actuated bymovement of said l0 motor-compressor unit.

9. In combination, a prime mover unit having a part rotatable about anaxis, a frame secured to said unit, means for mounting said framepermitting gyrations of said frame, said means including a rubbercushion substantially in alignment with said axis, and mechanismoperated by gyrations of said frame.

HARRY F. SMITH.

